Kobe, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)—Universities in Hyōgo Prefecture, western Japan, which was hit by a devastating earthquake 22 years ago, are working to develop human resources capable of leading efforts to reduce damage from natural disasters and support disaster-afflicted people and communities.

Utilizing experiences from the 7.3-magnitude Great Hanshin Earthquake on January 17, 1995, that killed more than 6,400 people, mainly in Hyōgo, the universities aim to foster personnel with advanced skills and expertise in disaster response, looking to send such experts across the country.

Last September, Kansai University of International Studies, located in the Hyōgo city of Miki, started a course to teach knowledge required to obtain an expert qualification for disaster prevention and reduction for second-, third- and fourth-year students of its Faculty of Human Sciences.

A total of 53 students took the course in the initial year.

For the course, the university adopted a system to help students reduce their costs for textbooks and exam fees with donations from companies. The system, the first of its kind in Japan, has so far drawn support from five companies.